The Beijing-based carrier said Tuesday it earned 5.5 billion yuan ($915 million) in the three months ending March 31. Revenue rose 6.9 percent over a year earlier to 83.2 billion ($13.9 billion) but costs also grew rapidly.

Network-related expenses rose 30.6 percent. The carrier's total number of mobile phone accounts rose by only 2.4 million during the quarter to 183.2 million.